مغامرة راكبة الدراجة في الطريق المهجور

The Return of Sherlock Holmes #4

by Arthur Conan Doyle, زينب عاطف (Translator)

فِي صَباحِ أَحدِ الأَيَّام، بَينَما كانَ شيرلوك هولمز والدُّكتُور واطسون يَعمَلانِ عَلى حلِّ قَضيَّةٍ مُهمَّةٍ فِي مَنزِلِهما فِي شارِعِ بيكر، تُصِرُّ سَيِّدةٌ شابَّةٌ عَلى لِقاءِ هولمز وإِخْبارِه بمَا تَشعُرُ بِه مِنْ خَطرٍ عَلى حَياتِها. تَعمَلُ الآنِسةُ فيوليت سميث مُدرِّسةَ مُوسِيقى لطِفْلةٍ صَغِيرةٍ فِي فارنهام، وتَذهَبُ كُلَّ عُطْلةِ نِهايةِ أُسْبوعٍ إلَى مَحطَّةِ القِطارِ عَلى دَرَّاجتِها فِي طَرِيقٍ مُنعزِلٍ لتَستقِلَّ القِطارَ المُتَّجِهَ إِلى المَدِينةِ لزِيارَةِ والِدَتِها. لاحَظَتْ فيوليت أنَّ ثَمَّةَ رَجُلًا يَتبَعُها عَلى طُولِ الطَّرِيقِ بدَرَّاجتِه، ولكِنَّه لَا يَقترِبُ مِنْها قَط، بَلْ يُحافِظُ عَلى مَسافةٍ كَبِيرةٍ بَينَهُما. فَما سِرُّ هَذا الرَّجُلِ يا تُرَى؟ ومَاذا يُرِيدُ مِنْها؟ وهَلْ سيُلحِقُ بِها الأَذَى؟ تَعرَّفْ عَلى إِجاباتِ تِلكَ الأَسْئلةِ مِن خِلالِ قِراءةِ أَحْداثِ القِصَّةِ المُثِيرَة.

Genres: Mystery, Classics, Short Stories, Fiction, Crime, Detective, Audiobook

26 pages, ebook

First published December 26, 1903

About the author

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a Scottish writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for A Study in Scarlet, the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Sherlock Holmes stories are milestones in the field of crime fiction.

Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.

Reviews

[Aishu Rehman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist is not one of the Sherlock Holmes stories that immediately springs to mind but there are some interesting features to it.

Most notably is the fact that the detective shows his physical prowess. The strength of Sherlock Holmes had been displayed in The Adventure of the Speckled Band, but in this story Conan Doyle also shows that the detective can fight. For in an encounter in a pub, had seen his opponent rendered unconscious, whilst Holmes himself was unscathed.

There are also some features within The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist that have been seen before in Conan Doyle stories. The overpayment for services rendered is an indication of a potential crime that was previously used in the case of The Red Headed League and The Adventure of the Copper Beeches. Also the fact that some people were making fortunes in the “colonies” had also previously been used in such stories as The Boscombe Valley Mystery.

The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist is one of the short Sherlock Holmes stories that was faithfully adapted for television by Granada TV, with Jeremy Brett starring in the lead role.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sherlock Holmes investigates the mystery of a young woman who claims she is being followed when cycyling alone on a country lane. The set up is better than the solution, but it's still a fast & fun read from Conan Doyle.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. This story always reminds me of The Adventure of the Copper Beeches —Holmes’ fatherly interest in Violet Smith is sweet, although very different to his brotherly anxiety for Violet Hunter of the Copper Beeches. She is a nice little woman, and the villains pleasantly villainous. C. is rather a grey character… I can never decide whether I like or dislike him. I enjoyed seeing Watson try to do the work for Holmes and failing, followed by Holmes’ humorous rundown of his own failure. The ending was unexpected, but it was so fun to see Holmes acting in a law-enforcing capacity!

Content: a handful of language; a man tries to force a woman to kiss him.

A Favourite Beautiful Quote: …for the road runs between the open heath on one side and an old yew hedge upon the other, surrounding a park which is studded with magnificent trees. There was a main gateway of lichen-studded stone, each side pillar surmounted by mouldering heraldic emblems, but besides this central carriage drive I observed several points where there were gaps in the hedge and paths leading through them. The house was invisible from the road, but the surroundings all spoke of gloom and decay. The heath was covered with golden patches of flowering gorse, gleaming magnificently in the light of the bright spring sunshine.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: That a man should lie in wait for and follow a very handsome woman is no unheard-of thing, and if he has so little audacity that he not only dared not address her, but even fled from her approach, he was not a very formidable assailant.

[Jack Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars. Delightful. I can't get over the writing talent of Doyle, something that was lost on me in my youth. It stands the test of time when many works of the same vintage don't. [It's 1903]. It's precise and beautifully descriptive - if only a touch staid. Of course a few lost terms show up - such as 'ostler.' [That's a person who takes care of horses temporarily, like at a country inn while the rider goes in to dine. No wonder it went extinct!] Set in 1895, Holmes and Watson are at 221B Baker Street when an attractive young woman visits asking for the assistance of the great detective. One of the many characteristics that made Holmes so memorable to readers at the time was his impatience. He was immersed in another problem and had no time for Violet Smith. But he does listen politely with the expectation of turning her down. Something changes his mind. With the passing of her father, the young woman and her mother were next to destitute. Her only relative, her father's brother had died in South Africa in the same situation. So she takes a new position as a music teacher. But someone is following her as she cycles to work. Can Holmes help? (Mar2023/Jul2024)

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a mystery, this one is not exactly befitting Holmes. But he livens it up with a fight— portrayed in an absolutely dazzling manner by the late great Jeremy Brett in Granada adaptation!
New readers of Holmes woud perhaps remember it by virute of the numerous pastiches this story has spawned, with all the various interpretations of crime and punishment.
Good for a quick read.

[⋆｡˚꒰ঌ lexi ໒꒱˚｡⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5
Es la primera vez que leo un relato en el que aparece Sherlock y creo que me encanta. La manera de escribir de Arthur es muy liviana pero a la vez tiene unos detalles importantes y sabe como crear ese ambiente misterioso. Disfruté mucho leyendolo pero estoy segura que hay relatos mejores de este autor. Estaré informandome, pero lo recomiendo desde ya!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

FRom BBC Radio 4 Extra - The Return of Sherlock Holmes:
The Baker Street sleuth investigates who's following music teacher Violet Smith. Stars Clive Merrison and Michael Williams.

[Isa Cantos (Crónicas de una Merodeadora) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me está gustando mucho que los casos de este libro sean más complejos y que le presenten más dificultades lógicas y analíticas a Sherlock. Después de aburrirme un poco con los otros libros, este se está redimiendo con las resoluciones interesantes e innovadoras.

[Jason Parent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each story is consistently good upon Sherlock's return

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet.

[Rob Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holmes is contacted by Miss Violet Smith of Farnham, Surrey about an unusual turn in hers and her mother's lives. Violet's father has recently died and left his wife and daughter rather poor. There was an ad in the news asking about their whereabouts. Answering it, they met Mr. Carruthers and Mr. Woodley, the former a pleasant enough man, but the latter a bully. They had come from South Africa, where they had known Violet's uncle Ralph Smith, who had now also died in poverty and apparently wanted to see that his relatives were provided for. This struck Violet as odd, since she and her family had not heard a word from Smith since his departure for South Africa 25 years ago. Carruthers and Woodley explained that before dying, Ralph had heard of his brother's death and felt responsible for his survivors' welfare.

Carruthers began by offering Violet a job as a live-in music teacher for his ten-year-old daughter at £100 a year, about twice the going rate. She accepted after Carruthers said that she could visit her mother on weekends. That went well until Mr. Woodley came to stay for a week. He made the most oafish and clumsy sexual advances to her, and boasted that if Violet married him she would have a life of luxury. He even grabbed her and demanded a kiss, precipitating expulsion by his host, Carruthers. Violet has not seen Woodley since.

The specific thing that has brought Violet to seek Holmes's services, however, is the strange man who follows her on his bicycle as she cycles to and from the railway station for her weekend visits to her mother. The strange man always keeps his distance behind her and disappears without a trace, never letting her near him, and always along the same lonely stretch of road. Violet does not recognize him, but he has a black beard. Holmes asks her about her admirers, and other than Woodley, if he can be styled as such, she can only think of Mr. Carruthers, who, although a perfect gentleman at all times, seems attracted to her.

After Violet leaves, Holmes observes that it is odd that a household would pay £100 a year for a music teacher but be too cheap to pay for a horse and trap. He sends Dr. Watson to Surrey to see what he can find out. This turns out to be virtually nothing, except to establish that the lady's story is true, and that the mystery man comes out of and goes back into a local house, Charlington Hall. Holmes upbraids Watson for his lackluster results. They also receive a letter from Violet that evening saying that Carruthers has proposed to her, but she had to refuse since she is already engaged to a man named Cyril Morton, an electrical engineer in Coventry.

Holmes goes to Surrey himself, and gets into a fight in a pub for his troubles; when he returns and tells Watson what happened, he actually considers his experience in Surrey to be hilarious. It seems that Mr. Woodley has been in the taproom at the pub and heard his name mentioned in conversation. He comes out and demands to know who Holmes is and what he wants. The discussion escalates to violence; Holmes emerges with a few bruises, whereas Woodley has to be carried home. The innkeeper has merely mentioned that Woodley is a regular weekend guest at Charlington Hall, which is rented by Williamson, who, rumor has it, is a clergyman.

Holmes returns to 221B Baker Street with his face somewhat marred, and another letter arrives from Violet, saying that her situation has become impossible owing to Mr. Carruthers's proposals, and Mr. Woodley's reappearance. She is quitting. Holmes knows that some intrigue is afoot, and he tells Watson that they must get themselves to Surrey to see that Violet makes it to the station. Carruthers has at last acquired a trap, and she need not ride her bicycle this time.

Through a failure to realize that Violet might take an earlier train than usual, Holmes discovers that he is too late to meet Violet. The trap comes along the road, but by the time it does, no one is in it: Violet has been abducted. Holmes and Watson board the empty trap in an attempt to go after the kidnappers. They come face-to-face with the mysterious cyclist, who pulls a revolver on them; however, both parties quickly realise that they are on the same side – both have Violet's welfare in mind. The cyclist declares that the abductors are Woodley and Williamson. He evidently knows something of the intrigue.

The group first find an unconscious groom, who was driving the trap, in the bushes, and then they find all three persons that they have been seeking on the Charlington Hall grounds, with the apparently defrocked clergyman performing a wedding ceremony between the other two. The bride is somewhat unwilling, judging from the gag over her mouth. Woodley's boast of having married Violet leads the mysterious cyclist, unmasking himself as Carruthers, to pull out his revolver and shoot Woodley, wounding him.

The intrigue does indeed involve Uncle Ralph in South Africa. He was dying when Carruthers and Woodley left; far from being penniless at his death, it is revealed that in reality, Uncle Ralph had amassed a large fortune. As he was illiterate, he would surely die intestate, and therefore Violet would inherit his wealth as Ralph's next of kin. The two crooks made their way to England in the hopes that one of them would get to marry Violet – Woodley having won the chance in a card game on the ship – and they had to draw Williamson into the plot, promising him a share of the lucre. The plan went awry when first, Woodley proved to be a brute, and next, Carruthers fell in love with Violet, and thereafter wanted nothing to do with his former confederates. He took to disguising himself and following her as she rode her bicycle past Charlington Hall, where he knew Woodley and Williamsom might be lying in wait for her.

Heavy penalties await Woodley and Williamson, but Carruthers only gets a few months due to Woodley's less-than-savory reputation. Holmes reassures Carruthers the "marriage" performed by Williamson was void; not only was it performed against Violet's will, but Williamson had been defrocked and therefore had no authority to legalise a marriage.

Doyle wrote this story in 1904. At that point the bicycle was both a tool for and a symbol of independence for women. All-in-all, this tale provides a fresh breath of country air. Some danger and a love triangle it still keeps you baffled until Holmes clears up the whole mystery. Lots of the usual deduction with just a little help from Watson.

[José Cruz Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Well,' said I, 'you call that love, but I should call it selfishness.'
'Maybe the two things go together.'

I haven't read all of the Sherlock Holmes stories, but I'm sure that The Solitary Cyclist is neither his more interesting nor his darkest. Holmes is, of course, as fascinating as ever. Conversely, Watson is a bland, almost boring narrator, as he is supposed to be.

This short tale is interesting from the very beginning: we learn that a beautiful young lady has a stalker who follows her on a bike. She is, understandably, more than slightly worried by the presence of the anonymous "admirer".

One of the most noteworthy features of this story is the fact that it show us some of Holmes's shortcomings. We therefore learn that he isn't a perfect detective, as he makes one or two avoidable mistakes (is that a pleonasm?) during the investigation that he carries out.

Those of you who read my reviews (very few people, I know) probably know by now that I love 19th century lit. above everything else. Thus, I will do my best to read all of the Sherlock Holmes and to rate them here on Goodreads.

[ESRAA MOHAMED · Rating 3 out of 5]

يضم الكتاب أربع قصص من سلسلة “عودة شيرلوك هولمز”
مغامرة المنزل الفارغ.
مغامرة بَنّاء نورْوُد.
لُغز “الرجال الراقصون”.
مغامرة راكبة الدرّاجة.

القصص في المجمل كويسة أفضلهم مغامرة المنزل الفارغ اللي بتشرح عودة هولمز بعد مشاجرة عنيفة مع عدوه اللدود موريارتي انتهت بسقوطهم في شلالات ريتشينباخ واعتقد الجميع بوفاة هولمز إلى أن يظهر لنا في قصة المنزل الفارغ، ثاني أفضل قصة لغز الرجال الراقصون.

استمتعوا...
دمتم قراء…❤❤❤

[IngeT (inge1970reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[I · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo he escuchado en la versión que ha sacado audible con las voces de Pepe Viyuela, Enrique Martínez y Mona Leon. Me ha encantado.

[Federico DN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.

This was excellent, but not going to review it.

For the moment at least.

It’s public domain. You can find it HERE.

-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1905] [30p] [Crime] [4.5] [Recommendable]
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★★★★☆ 1. A Study in Scarlet [3.5]
★★★☆☆ 2. The Sign of Four [2.5]
★★★☆☆ 3. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
★★★★☆ 4. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes [3.5]
★★★★☆ 5. The Hound of the Baskervilles
★★★★☆ 6. The Return of Sherlock Holmes <--
★★★☆☆ 7. The Valley of Fear
★★★★☆ 8. His Last Bow [3.5]
★★★☆☆ 9. The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes [2.5]
★★★☆☆ 10. The Complete Sherlock Holmes

-----------------------------------------------

Excelente.

Esto estuvo excelente, pero no voy a reseñarlo.

Al menos por ahora.

Es dominio público, lo pueden encontrar ACA.

-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1905] [30p] [Crimen] [4.5] [Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------

[Diamond Cowboy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful Sherlock Holmes story in which Dr. Watson is an idiot and Sherlock Holmes is perfectly correct.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75/5
One of the more boring cases of Sherlock Holmes. Wished it would have been more suspenseful and that it included more deduction work.

[Nö Ğå · Rating 3 out of 5]

فتاة شابه جميله ولكنها تعاني الفقر.. يتوفي عمها ف جنوب افريقيا ويؤمن اصدقاؤه من ان يوصلو ثروته لابنه اخيه ان كانت تعاني الفقر
يلعب اثنان منهم والفائز يجب عليه ان يتزوجها ويعطي الاخر نصيبه لتنطلي اللعبه ع تلك الفتاه
ولكنها سرعان ماتخشي حدوث شئ وتتوجه الي شيرلوك والذي انقذها ف اخر لحظه هو واحد الرجلين والذي وقع ف غرامها فعلا

[Sohini Sarker · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It is part of the settled order of Nature that
such a girl should have followers,” said Holmes, as
he pulled at his meditative pipe, “but for choice not
on bicycles in lonely country roads. Some secretive
lover, beyond all doubt. But there are curious and
suggestive details about the case, Watson.”

[Alberto Loredo · Rating 3 out of 5]

No es como otras aventuras, una historia poco extraordinaria en comparación con otras historias del mismo detective. Pienso que fue una forma dar a conocer un suceso terrible que en realidad pasó en los tiempos de Sir Arthur. Es una historia triste eso es seguro.

[Frank · Rating 2 out of 5]

If Victorian pretensions strike us as ridiculous, how will our pretensions appear to readers one hundred years from now?

[Cindy DeLong · Rating 5 out of 5]

About a young woman who is being followed when she rides her bike.

[فاطِمة طه · Rating 3 out of 5]

أصبحت مدمنة لقصص شارلوك هولمز القصيرة، كمحتوى صوتي.

[Daniela · Rating 3 out of 5]

entendí el audiolibro, pero necesito una relectura de esto pronto. Mejor personaje: John Watson, y la que soporteeee

[إبراهيم · Rating 3 out of 5]

تتكون هذه المجموعة من أربع قصص أولها قصة مغامرة المنزل الفارغ حيث أعاد دويل شارلوك إلى الحياة بعد قتله في قصة القضية الأخيرة للمطالبات الجماهيرية العريضة لكن أعاده بطريقة سيئة وسخيفة

القصة الثانية مغامرة بناء نورود وهنا يظهر دويل مسألة البصمة التي طبقتها الشرطة البريطانية لأول مرة عام 1901م بعد أن قام العالم غالتون عام 1892م بإثبات انه لا توجد بصمتا إصبعين متطابقتين

القصة الثالثة لغز الرجال الراقصون قد أدخل دويل مسألة الرموز السرية في الحكاية

القصة الرابعة وهي أقلها جودة وهي مغامرة راكبة الدراجة

[Crime Addict Sifat · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Return of Sherlock Holmes" is the third arrangement of stories including the world's most celebrated analyst, Sherlock Holmes. This specific book is the fourth story of the third arrangement. Appreciate Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creative energy as you read "The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist.

[SLADE · Rating 2 out of 5]

So a woman is freaked out by a man following her on a bicycle and it turns out to be her creepy boss trying to protect her from some other creepy man, and it turns out that both men and a third were actually part of a plot to trap her into marriage and steal her money. Women really didn't have a chance back in the day did they?

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rather odd Sherlock Holmes story that is incredibly dated at this point, but it's still a Sherlock Homes story and is therefore still enjoyable to read.

[Joop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kort SH verhaal. Weinig complexiteit